Addressing the needs of cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ survivors of sexual violence: a scoping review of service delivery and funding priorities among humanitarian organisations.

Sexual violence in humanitarian contexts is a global public health issue. Yet, evidence suggests that humanitarian organisations may not always be inclusive of cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ survivors in their responses. This scoping review examines the extent to which global organisations focusing on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) address the needs of cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ survivors in service delivery and funding priorities. We examined grey literature published from 2013-2023 on SGBV service delivery and funding priorities in humanitarian contexts. Forty-seven documents were included in the final analyses, which comprised content and thematic analyses. Many of the documents acknowledged cisgender, heterosexual men or LGBTIQ+ individuals as at-risk groups; however, there was a lack of comprehensive discussion of these groups. Documents on LGBTIQ+ individuals referred to the group as a monolith, making little distinction among the LGBTIQ+ experience and the need to tailor responses to meet intersectional needs. Documents on men emphasised their role as perpetrators and allies, while overlooking that they also experience sexual violence. Findings support the critical need to address gaps in humanitarian programme and donor priorities to better ensure inclusion of cisgender, heterosexual men and LGBTIQ+ individuals without ignoring the needs of women and girls.

Pioneers of progress: Documenting the legacy of underrepresented radiologists.

PURPOSE: This study aims to illuminate the enduring contributions of underrepresented pioneers in radiology, emphasizing their resilience, innovations, and the significant barriers they overcame. By weaving their achievements into the broader narrative of medical science, this research highlights the critical role of diversity and progress in the evolution of radiology. HISTORICAL EXPLORATION: This narrative review chronicles the significant contributions of underrepresented radiologists from the early 20th century to the present. By synthesizing historical data, biographical sketches, and contemporary medical literature, we highlight the pivotal roles these pioneers have played in advancing radiology. Their groundbreaking work not only enhanced medical imaging technologies and practices but also championed the cause of diversity and inclusion within the field. These stories of perseverance and innovation underscore the ongoing need for an inclusive approach in the medical community, reflecting on how diversity has shaped and will continue to influence the evolution of radiology. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION: The study identifies several pivotal figures, such as Marcus F. Wheatland, the first known African American radiologist, and Ivy O. Roach Brooks, the first woman to lead a radiology department at a major U.S. hospital. It explores their wide-ranging contributions from clinical practice and education to leadership and advocacy for diversity within the medical profession. The legacies of these radiologists illuminate not just their individual accomplishments but also reflect the broader struggle for equality and representation in the medical field. Their determination and excellence have paved the way for future generations, significantly enhancing the inclusivity and diversity of the radiology field. CLINICAL RELEVANCE AND APPLICATION: Understanding the contributions of these underrepresented radiologists enriches the field's perspective on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Highlighting these pioneers underscores the importance of mentorship, representation, and advocacy in creating an environment where all talented individuals can thrive. Insights from this historical analysis are crucial for shaping future policies and practices in radiology and medical education, ensuring the continuation of these trailblazers' inspiring legacy.

Work-life balance and the psychosocial work environment in Finnish working life: The case of gender and family life stages.

BACKGROUND: Work-life balance is associated with many positive effects at multiple levels and demands increased research attention. In the international literature on work-life balance, the term "gendered life-course" has been used to describe the differences between men and women in work biographies. However, whether this term applies to the Nordic work context remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE: This study examined Finnish men's and women's subjective experience of the association between work-life balance and the psychosocial work environment (work demands and social support at work) across the life course, devoting special attention to family life stages encompassing the care of (young) children. METHODS: Data from the Quality of Work Life Survey 2018 were utilized to conduct binary logistic regression analyses (N = 3790). Separate analyses were conducted for men and women. RESULTS: A significant association between family life stage and high work-life balance was found for women but not for men in the Finnish working life. Women in family life stages involving the care of young, dependent children reported the lowest odds of high work-life balance. For both men and women, a positive association between social support at work and high work-life balance was found, while a negative association was found between work demands and high work-life balance. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the importance of psychosocial factors in both the work and family settings for work-life balance. Further, the findings call for an expanded focus on gender equality, also including issues in unpaid work in addition to issues in paid work.

Leading medical schools for female neurosurgery graduates.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to determine the medical schools with the highest number and proportion of female graduates currently practicing neurosurgery and to identify medical school characteristics that increase female representation in neurosurgery, with the goal of addressing the gender disparity. METHODS: The authors used the Physician Compare National Downloadable File from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Physicians indicating neurosurgery as their primary specialty were extracted. Duplicates, physicians with medical school education listed as "other," and those expected to be in residency, fellowship, or research years (graduation years 2014-2023) were removed. Medical schools with the highest number and proportion of female neurosurgery graduates were stratified. A review of the current literature was conducted to identify characteristics of the institutions with high female representation. RESULTS: A total of 3486 neurosurgeons (319 female [9.2%], 3167 male [90.8%]) were identified. Yale University (n = 12), Columbia University (n = 8), Johns Hopkins University (n = 8), Stanford University (n = 8), and the University of Maryland (n = 8) had the most female neurosurgery graduates. Schools with the highest proportion of female neurosurgery graduates included the University of California, San Diego (25%); the State University of New York Upstate Medical University (25%); Pennsylvania State University (22.2%); the University of Maryland (21.1%); and the University of Florida (18.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Achieving gender diversity in neurosurgery necessitates a multifaceted approach. Institutions with a higher number and proportion of female neurosurgery graduates emphasized female-female mentorship, fostered diversity initiatives, and implemented inclusive policies. To increase female representation in neurosurgery, it is crucial to establish robust mentorship programs that provide aspiring female neurosurgeons with the guidance, support, and motivation required to navigate a traditionally male-dominated field.

Participation in physical activity and sport in adolescent girls from Middle Eastern backgrounds.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and sport participation among adolescent girls from Middle Eastern backgrounds. These factors were explored through the perspectives of both adolescent girls and parents of adolescent girls, living in Australia. DESIGN: A qualitative study design was used to understand perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity and sport in adolescent girls. Participants were 18 adolescent girls and 9 parents of adolescent girls, all of Middle Eastern backgrounds, living in Western Sydney, Australia. Data were collected through five focus groups and four one-on-one interviews, separated for girls and parents. Data were analysed using an inductive approach and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes (family, social support, religion and culture) and nine subthemes were identified. The main facilitators for physical activity and sport included the values and presence of an active family role model, religion to encourage lifelong physical activity skills, and promotion of physical activity from peers, school, and social media. The predominant barriers to physical activity and sport included established cultural norms and traditional gender roles, which were often influenced by religion and culture, and extended time using technology. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study show the complex relationships between family, religion, and culture when promoting physical and sport participation. Such factors highlight the need to develop culturally tailored physical activity interventions that consider the perceived barriers and facilitators for adolescent girls' participation from Middle Eastern backgrounds.

Coping strategies, challenges and potential interventions among adult patients with HIV and mental illness comorbidity in southwestern Uganda.

HIV and mental illness comorbidity presents significant healthcare challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare systems often address individual conditions rather than comorbidities. This results in poor coping, increased vulnerability and diminished health-related quality of life. This study investigated coping strategies, challenges and potential interventions for individuals with HIV-mental illness comorbidity in Southwestern Uganda. The study included purposively selected people with HIV and mental illnesses seeking care in health facilities across Southwestern Uganda. Data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews were transcribed verbatim and entered into ATLAS.ti-7 for analysis. Thematic analysis was employed, generating codes from the transcripts to develop themes. The data revealed three categories: coping strategies, challenges and potential interventions. Three key coping strategies emerged: conscious avoidance of emotional stressors, maintaining emotional stability through social interactions and reliance on prayer. Challenges included social isolation, financial crises, vulnerability to abuse and medication management issues. Respondents recommended scaling up mass educational programmes to increase awareness of causes, preventive measures and association between the two comorbidities, together with implementing financial aid initiatives as viable interventions. These findings highlight the importance of addressing comorbidities together for improved emotional stability and underscore the value of the proposed potential interventions for healthcare systems and policymakers.

A lower gender equality consciousness in rural and left-behind children: a latent class analysis.

Objective: School age is a critical period for the development of individual gender equality consciousness. The purpose of this study was to explore the potential classes of school-age children's gender equality consciousness, influencing factors and their differences in gender role, thus providing targeted guidance for the formulation and implementation of gender equality education strategies. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1846 school-age children using the demographic information questionnaire, gender equality consciousness questionnaire and Bem Sex Role Inventory. A latent class analysis was performed to explore gender equality consciousness latent classes. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of class membership, and chi-square test was used to compare the gender role of each latent class. Results: The average age of the included 1846 participants was 10.10 ± 1.82 years old. The proportion of boy, grade 6 and living in urban area, respectively, were 50.8, 25.3, and 60.2%. The only children was 16.3% and left-behind children was 22.5%. 60.5% of all children thought their parents had a good relationship. The core family structure in all participants was 54.1%. Mothers were the caregivers of most children (63.6%). The same-sex friends more than 3 was 73.5%, while opposite-sex friends ranged from 0 to 1 was 41.7%. Three latent classes were identified and labeled "high gender equality consciousness" class (20.6%), "moderate gender equality consciousness" class (42.3%) and "low high gender equality consciousness" class (37.1%). Factors affecting the different types of school-age children's gender equality consciousness include gender, grade, caregiver, place of residence, whether they are left-behind children and parental relationship. Rural and left-behind children are more likely to enter the "low gender equality consciousness" group. Children in the "low gender equality consciousness" group had a lower proportion of androgynous gender role. Conclusion: Rural children and left-behind children are the priority groups for gender equality education. Gender role is the important predictors and intervention targets of children's gender equality consciousness. Educators or policy makers can formulate targeted intervention measures according to the influencing factors of potential classes.

Equality of healthcare resource allocation between impoverished counties and non-impoverished counties in Northwest China: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The Health and Medical Assistance Program for Poverty Alleviation is part of China's targeted poverty elimination strategy, which aims to protect poor people's right to health and prevent them from becoming trapped in or returning to poverty because of illness. Many tasks have been defined in this program, including raising the medical insurance level, providing a triage system, improving medical and health services, and enhancing people's health. One pivotal aspect of this initiative involves equitable health resource allocation, a key measure aimed at bolstering medical and health services. This study aimed to analyze and compare health resource allocations in different counties in Northwest China after the implementation of the program. METHODS: The Gini coefficient quantifies the level of distributional equality, the Theil index assesses the sources of inequality, and the Health Resource Agglomeration Degree gauges the accessibility of health resources. RESULTS: 1) The health resource allocation distributed based on population(Gini Coefficient < 0.45) was more equitable than that distributed based on area(Gini Coefficient > 0.35) among counties in Northwest China. 2) The contribution rate within non-impoverished counties is higher than that of impoverished counties, which means the inequality within non-impoverished counties. 3) The allocation of beds in medical institutions by area in non-impoverished counties was better than that in impoverished counties, and accessibility to health services for residents in non-impoverished counties was better than that in impoverished counties. CONCLUSION: The analysis of health resource allocation among the five provinces in Northwest China revealed significant differences in equality among the five provinces in Northwest China, and the differences were mainly derived from the non-impoverished counties. Although the equality is gradually improving, the number of health resources in impoverished counties remain lower than that in non-impoverished counties.Subsequently, it is essential to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare resources while also taking into account their utilization and quality.

Empowering Futures: Intersecting Comprehensive Sexual Education for Children and Adolescents With Sustainable Development Goals.

This scoping review synthesizes the intersection of comprehensive sexual education (CSE) for children and adolescents with sustainable development goals (SDGs) to assess the potential for empowering future generations. Considering the global challenges in addressing sexual health, this review explores the potential role of CSE in contributing to the achievement of the SDGs, particularly in the context of empowering youth and ensuring their well-being. The review begins by providing a comprehensive overview of CSE, emphasizing its role in promoting informed decision-making, gender equality, and preventing sexual and reproductive health issues among young individuals. It then delves into the overarching framework of the SDGs, mainly focusing on goals related to health, education, gender equality, and sustainable development. The synthesis examines the alignment and potential synergies between CSE and various SDGs, highlighting how CSE can contribute to outcomes such as improved health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities. Furthermore, the review brings attention to potential challenges and barriers in implementing CSE programs in different cultural and socio-economic contexts. Ultimately, this scoping review provides a critical analysis of the intersection between CSE and the SDGs, offering insights into how the comprehensive education of children and adolescents in sexual and reproductive health can play a significant role in advancing sustainable development and empowering future generations worldwide.

Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich Celebrates its 10th Anniversary - A Retrospective and Outlook.

For this CHIMIA special issue on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the coincidental 10th anniversary of the association of Women in Natural Sciences (WiNS) at ETH Zurich, there is no better opportunity to share what we have achieved in the last decade. WiNS was originally founded by female PhD students and PostDocs at the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences (D-CHAB) and has expanded to include three additional departments at ETH Zurich. Join us in celebrating our anniversary, reflecting on what we and other associations with the same mission have done to promote gender equality and reduced inequalities for all. We invite you to reflect on what yet has to be done to enact a systemic change towards achieving equal opportunities for all, rather than simply accommodating the female perspective to Switzerland's predominantly masculine working culture.

Lifetime HIV testing among three samples of adults with histories of incarceration in Southern California.

ABSTRACTJustice-impacted persons may inconsistently access HIV testing. This cross-sectional secondary analysis investigates lifetime HIV testing prevalence among adults with prior histories of incarceration in Southern California, United States, participating in health-focused programming (n = 3 studies). Self-reported demographic and lifetime HIV testing data were collected between 2017-2023; descriptive analyses were conducted. Across the three samples, at least 74% of participants were male; Latino and African American individuals accounted for nearly two-thirds of participants. Lifetime HIV testing ranged from 72.8% to 84.2%. Males were significantly more likely than females to report never being tested in two samples and accounted for >95% of those never tested. No statistically significant differences in testing were observed by race/ethnicity. Single young adults (ages 18-26) were less likely than their partnered peers to report testing. HIV testing is critical for ensuring that individuals access prevention and treatment. HIV testing among justice-impacted adults in this study was higher than in the general population, potentially due to opt-out testing in correctional settings. Nevertheless, these findings underscore the importance of implementing targeted interventions to reduce structural (e.g., health insurance, access to self-testing kits) and social barriers (e.g., HIV stigma) to increase HIV testing among justice-impacted males and single young adults.

The Black Lives Matter movement mitigates bias against racial minority actors.

Watching movies is among the most popular entertainment and cultural activities. How do viewers react when a movie sequel increases racial minority actors in the main cast ("minority increase")? On the one hand, such sequels may receive better evaluations if viewers appreciate racially inclusive casting for its novel elements (the value-in-diversity perspective) and moral appeal (the fairness perspective on diversity). On the other hand, discrimination research suggests that if viewers harbor biases against racial minorities, sequels with minority increase may receive worse evaluations. To examine these competing possibilities, we analyze a unique panel dataset of movie series released from 1998 to 2021 and conduct text analysis of 312,457 reviews of these movies. Consistent with discrimination research, we find that movies with minority increase receive lower ratings and more toxic reviews. Importantly, these effects weaken after the advent of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, especially when the movement's intensity is high. These results are reliable across various robustness checks (e.g., propensity score matching, random implementation test). We conceptually replicate the bias mitigation effect of BLM in a preregistered experiment: Heightening the salience of BLM increases White individuals' acceptance of racial minority increase in a movie sequel. This research demonstrates the power of social movements in fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion.

Explaining inequity in knowledge, attitude, and services related to HIV/AIDS: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Equitable service provision and coverage are important responses to end the threat of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Understanding inequity supports policies and programmes to deliver tailored interventions. There is continuous evidence generation on inequity in HIV/AIDS services. However, there was a lack of evidence on the global picture of inequity in behavioural and biomedical services related to HIV/AIDS. This systematic review assessed inequities in knowledge, attitude, HIV testing, and ART coverage across individual-level social groups and multiple (dis)advantage categories. METHODS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guideline, with a PROSPERO registration number CRD42024521247. The risk of bias was assessed by using Hoy et al's and Joanna Brigg's quality appraisal checklists for cross-sectional quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. The search date was from inception to the final database search date (May 29, 2023). The included articles were either quantitative or qualitative studies. We used mixed-methods approach to analyse the data from the review articles. Quantitative descriptive analysis was conducted to estimate frequency of articles published from different countries around the world. Qualitative content analysis of the findings from the original studies was conducted using the PROGRESS plus framework which stands for: place of residence, occupation or employment status, gender, religion, education status, socioeconomic status, and social capital. RESULTS: Out of 6,029 articles that were accessed and screened, only 72 articles met the inclusion criteria. More articles on HIV-related equity in knowledge, attitude, testing, and ART were published in developed countries than in developing countries. Individuals from higher-income households had better knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Unfavourable attitudes towards people living with HIV and HIV/AIDS-associated stigma were common among women. HIV/AIDS service coverage (HIV testing or ART coverage) was higher among richer and urban residents. HIV/AIDS-associated stigma and lower levels of knowledge about HIV/AIDS were observed among multiple disadvantageous groups due to the intersection of two or more identities. CONCLUSIONS: The current review revealed that there have been disparities in HIV/AIDS services between social classes. Ending service disparity towards the global threat of HIV/AIDS demands tailored interventions based on socially disadvantaged groups (e.g., poor, rural dwellers, and women) and intersectional determinants. There is a need to understand the deep-rooted causes of inequity and the challenges that an equity-oriented system faces over time. More studies on inequity are needed, including intersectional inequity, which has been rarely studied in developing countries.

Catalysts of violence against women students: the role of the university, aggressors, and victims.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to bring a multilevel perspective to the discussion of the antecedents of violence against women in higher education settings. Originality/value: This paper was guided by the need indicated in the literature for research on the multiple levels that constitute the context of violence against women, as this is a public health problem, a designation that indicates the urgency with which this pervasive phenomenon should be addressed. The university context is conducive to this type of research, as it includes situations that favor instances of violence. Additionally, it aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Gender Equality and Quality Educations. Design/methodology/approach: This paper follows a qualitative and interpretative approach. This choice was due to the need to know the "how" and "why" elements that are part of violence against women in the university context. As the main source of evidence for the study, we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with women (victims) and men (aggressors), all university students involved in situations of violence. The transcription of the interviews generated 346 quotations, including 41 analysis codes. Findings: After conducting the data coding, we identified that (i) the actions and omissions of the educational institution, (ii) the taste for violence, the perception of self-efficacy and the influence of the aggressors' group of friends, and (iii) the apparent dichotomy between women's vulnerability and women's strength are among the main antecedents of violence against women. The article concludes with possible research questions to combat violence. Among the contribution of the discussions presented in our article, we highlight the importance of adopting a multilevel view so that we can better understand and fight against this violence, the existence of which is not restricted to the university context.

Capturing the perspectives of African American informal dementia caregivers: a phenomenological study.

Dementia can be overwhelming to families and their caregivers. Informal caregiving is a widespread mode of providing dementia care in African American communities, yet impact of caregiving on informal or family caregivers in African American communities is burdensome. This study aimed to describe the lived experiences of informal caregivers of African American People Living with Dementia (PLWD) to understand their perceptions of dementia and dementia care, caregiver support needs, and service needs. Interpretive phenomenological qualitative inquiry guided this study to understand caregivers' experiences and needs. Ten family caregivers of African American PLWD in the community participated in this study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and a diary study approach to document and interpret caregivers' experiences. The data analysis was based on procedures of content analysis. Four major themes emerged from the in-depth interviews: caregiver burden, familism, lack of information and community-based resources, and desire and need for culturally appropriate community-based resources. Triangulated diary entry data complemented the in-depth interviews with similar themes. This study highlights how African American informal caregivers of PLWD face various caregiving needs and challenges in dementia care including lack of culturally appropriate community resources and information. The study illustrates that African American cultural beliefs of familism are significant aspects of their caregiving experience and their coping strategies. These study results provide a useful foundation for various stakeholders to develop culturally targeted interventions and programs to support African American informal caregivers and their family members with dementia.

Utility of the Alcohol Use Disorder Inventory Test in determining caseness for alcohol use disorder among persons receiving antiretroviral therapy.

We sought to determine the utility of the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) in screening for alcohol use disorder (AUD) among 688 users of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We used the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to assess whether the AUDIT reliably detected AUD against the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID). Of the samples, 22.09% (CI: 19.05% to 25.38%) of participants met the diagnostic criteria for AUD. Among men (n = 135) and women (n = 553), the prevalence estimates were 31.9% and 19.7%, respectively. For men, a cut-off score of 6 predicted AUD with 88.36% (95%CI: 74.92-96.11) sensitivity and 88.04% (95%CI: 79.61-93.88) specificity. For women, a cut-off score of 4 on the AUDIT yielded an optimal sensitivity of 92.66% (95% CI: 86.05%-96.78%) and a specificity of 93.24% (95% CI: 90.49-95.40%). For men, the AUDIT yielded a positive predictive value (PPV) of 75.55% (95% CI: 66.26%-85.87%) and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.49% (95% CI: 87.63-97.37%); for women the PPV and NPV were 77.09% (70.34%-82.68%) and 98.11% (96.37%-99.02%), respectively. The instrument's good sensitivity and specificity indicate it is likely to be useful for screening and referral of ART users who are probably cases of AUD.

Cultivating staff equality, diversity, and inclusion in higher education in the post-pandemic era: an organizational compassion perspective.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing challenges faced by academic staff in UK higher education and drawn attention to issues of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Amidst global competitiveness and workplace pressures, challenges such as managerialism, increased workload, and inequalities have worsened, significantly impacting mental health. This paper presents a conceptual analysis connecting EDI with organizational compassion within the context of Higher Education. The prioritization of organizational compassion is presented as a means to enhance sensitivity to EDI in the reconstruction of post-pandemic learning environments. Anchored in the organizational compassion theory and the NEAR Mechanisms Model, our study contributes to the intersection of the organizational compassion, EDI and higher education literatures by exploring how fostering compassion relations can contribute to enhancing EDI. This offers a new perspective to creating a more humane and supportive higher education environment.

Association Between Egalitarian Gender Attitudes and Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage: Findings from a National Representative Survey.

Egalitarian gender attitudes are linked to increased support for same-sex marriage, with previous studies mainly focusing on Western countries. Limited existing research from Asian countries often relied on non-representative, convenient samples. Taiwan, the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage in 2019, offers a valuable context. Since surveys before 2020 lacked questions on attitudes toward same-sex marriage, we utilized the 2020 PSFD data for a cross-sectional analysis. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the relationship between gender attitudes (assessed through six questions) and attitudes toward same-sex marriage, along with examining the moderation effects of socio-demographic variables. The results revealed significant associations between embracing egalitarian gender attitudes and increased support for same-sex marriage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] ranged from 1.34 to 2.08, 95% CI = [1.15, 2.45]). Moderation analysis indicated that this connection appeared to be more pronounced among younger individuals, those who were not currently married, and those with higher educational attainment. Individuals who are older, less educated, or married and hold negative views on gender equality should be targeted for efforts to enhance their support for same-sex marriage. Advocating for gender equality aligns with principles of equality, nondiscrimination, and recognizing fundamental rights for all, irrespective of sexual orientation.

Contract Law When the Poor Pay More.

Taking inequality as a key challenge of our time, this article aims to highlight consumer markets, and their underpinning legal ground rules, as important contributors to inequitable wealth distributions. It illustrates how product design, as manifested in contractual terms, can allow firms to evade competition and divert resources upwards along society's wealth distribution curve. It then highlights the contestable legality of certain pricing practices, such as 'contingent charges', and the challenge they pose to fundamental principles of contract law. An in-depth view of the 2015 case of Beavis v ParkingEye argues that the UK Supreme Court has validated contingent pricing models in a manner unsupported by traditional contractual reasoning and unjustified by contemporary market failure analysis. The article asks contract law to confront the reality that it shapes market distributions in economically and politically significant ways, and appeals for greater scrutiny of the contribution of contract law adjudication to inequality.